Through Alex Pattakos, Viktor Frankl has again come to my rescue also as he did earlier in my life through wonderful book, Man's Search for Meaning.

It has been a week of heavy news and troubles in the world so far-reaching one feels helpless to make a contribution that matters. Alex Pattakos has been seeding the dialogue at 24seven Conversationseach month, highlighting one of Viktor Frankl's principles that he explore in his book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles at Work.

Today, I took the time to re-read the chapter on the third principle, Detect the Meaning in Life's Moments. "We don’t create meaning; we find it." Alex reminds us, "And we can’t find it if we don’t look for it." Where he really helped me today was in what he describes as "High Altitude Thinking". He asks you to imagine that you are sitting high on a moutain peak overlooking your life. "From this distance, you can see all of the roads that you have taken, all of the stops that you have made, all of the people that you have encountered, all of the things that you have done or experienced in your life."

Wow!! What a view!!! I loved seeing the paths of my life from a new perspective. Even with all its trials, tragedies and triumphs looking at it in the distance filled me with gratitude. Sometimes I recognize that I am an unintentional "prisoner of my thoughts." I get too involved, too stressed, too immersed in too many things---I miss out on paying attention to what is present right in front of me. How about you? Are you a prisioner of your thoughts??? I invite you to come find out. Join the dialogue with Alex.

New deaths and destruction are part of the welcome to this new day. Again we are reminded of the harsh realities and implications fueled by the "vision" of self-proclaimed "war president". I ache. At the same time, I pray for peace with my mind filled with the possibilities and healing powers of dialogue, love and gratitude.

"We decided on a dialogue between our people...I often witnessed the wonderful discovery that occurs when people suddenly realize that they are the same, that their problems are the same, that their fears are the same, that their hopes are the same, that their aspirations are the same."

There is truth in the fact that picture is truly worth a thousand words. The Knowledge Galleryat the Global Dialogue Center has two compelling online exhibits that bring together the power of dialogue, love and gratitude on humanity and our world. I invite your to see for yourself:

Socrates proclaimed, "Let him that would move the world first move himself." His message echoes with meaning today as we listen to the Bush Administration handing out daily aggressive rhetorical threats here and there around the world. It makes me ache.

There is such a limitless power in genuine dialogue vs. acts of military might and aggression. In a recent article in the The Christian Science Monitorby James Brandon this truth was brought to life.

"When Judge Hamoud al-Hitar announced that he and four other Islamic scholars would challenge Yemen's Al Qaeda prisoners to a theological contest, Western antiterrorism experts warned that this high-stakes gamble would end in disaster." To the contrary it did not. "If you can convince us that your ideas are justified by the Koran, then we will join you in your struggle," Hitar told the militants. "But if we succeed in convincing you of our ideas, then you must agree to renounce violence." The prisoners eagerly agreed.

Since December 2002, when the first round of dialogues ended, there have been no terrorist attacks, even though many people thought that Yemen would be come terror's capital," says Hitar, eyes glinting shrewdly from beneath his emerald-green turban. "Three hundred and sixty-four young men have been released after going through the dialogues and none of these have left Yemen to fight anywhere else.

Judge Hamoud al-Hitar went on to explain that the dialogue process included mutual respect, acknowledging freedom of expression, intellect and opinion. He shared that you must listen and show interest in what others are saying.

We have much to learn from others. My prayers are for peace. May our leaders discover the power of trust, mutual respect and human dignity for all. May our own lives be beacons of this message.

starting overWith the music blasting as I was doing Saturday’s one’s and two’s a week or so ago, a favorite old song came on the radio. It was Carly Simon singing “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” As I began to sing along with Carly’s rendition of the well-known nursery rhyme, I realized for the first time that I was singing about the same familiar life pattern that goes on in all of life. It recounts one of the defining moments in a spider’s experience.

“The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out. Out came the sun and dried up all the rain, and the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the spout again.”

Obviously, she chose, in a new day’s sun, to risk it all again — to go on.

Waking up your is an obsession. I keep thinking about what I've learned in recent weeks about what's going on in the world, feeling somewhat helpless and yet wanting to do something. A little knowledge is painful. It asks more of you. So in quiet desperation, I write. Someone wrote recently on the Confessions of an Economic Hit Man Forum at the Global Dialogue Center that ...that "the hardest part of knowing what is going on to me is the lack of involvment by the people around me that seem to know what is going on."Isn't this the truth!!! Wake up America!!!

Some years back, I had the honor of spending time with Sue Swenson (former President and CEO, Cellular One (currently COO with T-Mobile) to interview her for a book series I was writing. She was amazing in many ways. Her stories come to mind often and have influenced many people. Today, I suppose in needed a reminder, I share an excerpt from one of her very special messages to us all:

"Early in my leadership career, I worked for a man who told me to cut my hair and change my name---and that I would never be successful unless I had this certain appearance. This went against my grain. His message was that I was being judged on my external appearance---not on what I brought to the organization or my leadership ability. At that moment, I certainly wondered if I was going to be a fit in that company. Fortunately, soon after, in came the new boss, who shared common values with me. Problem solved. However, the lesson I learned from it stayed with me. I once saw a license plate that said it all: B WHO U R. If you try to be somebody, or something, other than what you are, you are always having to think about it---and put energy into it, instead of directing your energy toward the constructive purpose calling for your full attention. When you are not distracted, you can be much more effective." Excerpt from book: Acceptance: Developing Support for Change, Be Who You Are by Debbe KennedyWhat have you learned about being who you are?Debbe Kennedy